2.2. Component 2 ‘Imaging and high-performance computing of the deep Earth and lithosphere’

Information on the present-day structure of the Earth’s crust (Fig. 9) and its deeper interior (Fig. 10) at various scales is of fundamental importance to the Solid-Earth sciences. Close constraints on the crustal and mantle structure permit to model presently active internal processes, as well as processes that have ceased to be active, the memory of which is preserved in the present-day configuration of the crust and lithospheric mantle (connection to components 3 and 4). Controls on the gravity field and internal structure of the Earth, combined with monitoring of active processes (e.g. earthquake activity, surface deformation) play an important role in this component - and in TOPO-EUROPE in general – by providing constraints for modelling (component 4) of the past and present dynamic state of the crust and mantle system and underlying processes. Information on the detailed history of the crust-mantle system provides the backbone for paleo-topography reconstructions (component 3) and for explaining controls on present-day surface topography (component 1).